bob? >> i'm the one who says we're not in decline and that things are really better than people think and i think, i wish that there were more of that being said right now but on the other hand, we're in a political campaign and nobody's supposed to say the other guy isn't a disaster around won't turn it into a disaster but i am generally optimistic about the united states. i do think, a, we're going to come out of recession, and b, i think we are going to fight our way through to a political deal that deals with these, all these range of economic issues that we have. and i also think we continue to be in the most advantageous position. i wouldn't trade our position with any other country in the world. >> jessica. >> i, there is none of the things you enumerated that i would disagree with, but, -- >> but go ahead anyway. >> no. i think those are all true although you could say, you know, also true that college s.a.t. scores have gone down for 40 years and lowest this year ever, et cetera.